A Daily Life

We had a little drama the other night – the Momma Cardinal was teaching this little guy to fly and he got stranded on our deck for a few minutes.  There wasn’t much time to swing the camera up and click away.  He sensed us enough through the glass to turn sideways and glare at us.  Momma […]

Every few  years, I reread the Laura Ingalls Wilder books.  I love her stories, from living in the big woods to marrying Almanzo Wilder.  Laura was my type of girl – having fun, standing up to her sister, trying to do what was right, a good student and daughter.  Yet when I read some of her […]

One of the coolest toys for my nephew and daughter was the year she got this giant bubble maker for a birthday present.  The shaped bubbles were the greatest fun to watch, like this one that my nephew stretched waaaaaaay out. Word for tomorrow – FANTASY.  If you prefer to work ahead, see the list for […]

Sometimes it’s hard wrapping my head around a new project, especially something I haven’t done before.  There are different ways to start, one of the best being watching someone else do it first.  Someone explaining how to start is nearly as good.  One great thing about maturity is that it gets easier to start new projects […]

When you’re a beagle, what’s the easiest way to get from one side of the yard to the other?  You go through the garden.  Not around, not avoiding the squash vines, but right on through. I don’t think he’s causing any damage – at least no more than the heat is – but each time […]

I’m a good housekeeper, but simple is better for my lifestyle.  As a result, I don’t spend much time polishing anything, whether it be silver, furniture or shoes.  Actually, I don’t own things that need polishing since I know I won’t do it.  A good example of this are my Farberware pots – durable, sturdy, machine […]

Like many other parts of the country, central Virginia has had lethally hot weather lately.  Friday, the heat index was 117 degrees before noon.  On Saturday, the actual temperature was one degree short of breaking a record.  The humidity is terrible also – visibility is hazy and the pollution count is high. I give thanks for […]

It’s always funny to look back at the different hairstyles I’ve worn – some are pretty good, some are okay, and others are pretty funny.  When my Mom turned 70, my sister and I worked together on a photo album for her.  One of the things we did was all her hairstyles over the year.  […]

I’ve written previously about how fiercely protective my miniature pinscher is of his Momma.  As far as he’s concerned, he was appointed guardian of my life. Yahoo News recently had a video clip of a miniature pinscher type dog driving off two men trying to rob a tobacco store.  They had guns too, but turned and ran […]

I love using quotes and sharing quotes.  So many people have such good comments, from Mark Twain whose sarcasm said truthful things such as: Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. to the thoughtfulness of Henry David Thoreau, who said things such as: Live each season as it passes; breathe the […]

I love the quiet of early morning.  It’s a new day, everything is peaceful, my mind is relaxed, and it’s just nice.  I enjoy it. Taking a nice sunrise picture is an extra plus.  Of course, that’s easier to do in the winter when the sunrise is so late! Word for tomorrow – QUOTE.  If you […]

My favorite boy toy creates and sells fine art photography.  He went to a top art school, having apprenticed with a well-known oil painter while in high school.  He doesn’t paint consistently since his photography is very consuming, but from time to time he picks up the paint brushes and uses them.  Here he is about ten […]

I’ve had a study in each house that we’ve owned.  It’s not always big, but it’s usually stuffed with my bookshelves and a pine desk that my favorite boy toy sanded and finished for me.  For nearly 15 years, it was also accompanied by my favorite cat, Siamese #1 (on the left in this picture).  […]

It is hard to believe, but once upon a time there was no such thing as cable television.  No pay-per-views, no channels from other states or other countries, and no way to tape a favorite show.  If you missed it, you had to wait until the summer to see the re-runs, when the regular programming […]

My sister and I have enjoyed a close relationship for our entire life.  As we started our families, I was a working mother, she was a stay-at-home mother.  I didn’t particularly want to work, but I had significantly higher earnings than my favorite boy toy.  She loved staying at home with her children, something she wanted […]

I’m slowly reading a book called “Loyalty:  The Vexing Virtue” by Eric Felton.  It’s a fascinating book, discussing the good side and bad side of loyalty, how loyalties can conflict us, and how the ribbons of loyalty cannot be explained (my wording, not his).  In an early chapter, Felton talks about the role of loyalty in […]

The kitten (Siamese #3) was always up to adventure and of course, being a cat, was incessantly curious.  On a lark, he decided to scale Mount Daddy one day.  Surprisingly, his Daddy tolerated it pretty good before removing those sharp little claws from the back of his neck. Word for tomorrow – RIBBON.  If you […]

Once upon a time, my favorite boy toy had an orchid business.  Because we lived in the Midwest, he grew them under lights rather than a greenhouse.  It was amazing what a healthy root system these babies developed.  Of course, it wasn’t just the lights – it was also the humidity, plant food, reverse osmosis water, […]

When I lived in Rochester, New York, I ate lunch most days in the atrium of the Bausch & Lomb office building, located across the street.  The atrium was huge and airy, with metal chairs and tables (like a picnic), and best of all, I could bring my lunch.  They weren’t offended that I didn’t buy it there. […]

There is so much to see in Williamsburg!  I enjoy going there and am blessed to be less than an hour drive away from it, making it accessible without advance planning. The gardens there are beautiful.  They are done in the style you would have expected in the 1700’s, with a mix of vegetables and various flowers.  […]